German Rail [moved]
 

I'm taking Hamburg - Bremen - Bremerhaven via rail in March. IC for the first part in first and then RE. I was wondering what is the difference between first and second class on German trains? Any way to earn M&M miles? price difference between first and second class was about 10euro

Ok, here goes: On the ICE trains second class is probably bearable (allegedly, I don't do 2nd class ;) ). However on IC and RE trains it is just the pits. Always go for First Class. IC trains do not have air-con in 2nd class only in 1st. (important obviously only in summer). RE trains don't have a/c in neither class.

If the price difference is only €10 then it is a no-brainer !

For 10€, I'd also go for first class. You can also access DB lounges if you have a first class ticket.

That being said, second class is not bad, though the IC trains are of very variable quality, while the ICE trains are pretty uniformly nice. Some IC and RE trains have air conditioning (even in second class), it depends on the train itself. RE trains are functional trains, often serving commuters. They are not always staffed with a conductor.

For such a short journey it really doesn't matter.

If it's at a busy time I would consider first class because second can get very crowded. Off-peak second is absolutely fine.

True...I didn't really pay attention to the trip the OP was making.

Now that I have: jason8612, does this mean that your car is arriving finally in Bremerhaven?

Yes it is! After many months and some complaining and a police report,they finally found the car and shipped it out. Going next week to pick it up.
Even if the seat is bigger and the cabin is a bit nicer, I think its worth the 10euro. Any free drinks (tea, coffee)?
I also got to think how to import the car. On my USA passport or both USA and Polish and "resettlement property" so I don't have to pay VAT.

No free drinks last time I travelled first class on a German train (about three years ago) - and I travelled on quite a few trains that week as I had a first class railpass.

I don't think you get free refreshments on the train, but you should be able to use the lounges in Hamburg and/or Bremen, where there are refreshments available. You can get at-seat service for meals, but you still have to pay for the meals. They provide free newspapers, but I don't know if there are any in English. The website mentions the possibility of nuts or chocolates.

My personal favourite is the "quiet section" in ICE 1st class. What a pleasure to travel with the at-seat service and no mobile terror!

But on the RE trains 1st is also nice as they tend to get fairly crowded elsewhere. On some scenic routes the upstairs view (1st class is mostly upstairs on the REs) is really enjoyable.

And as I do travel quite a lot with them when in Europe, you have conductors on all RE trains. But due to their workload they sometimes prefer to stay in their train office, IMHO.

It depends on the route. Some routes are equpped with TAV (technikbasierte Abfertigungsverfahren) and do not require a conductor.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technik...gungsverfahren

Hmm
any way to earn M&M miles?
Also, getting from Bremerhaven train station to the port (which I don't know how you say in Germam) is easy? taxi? cost? anything to know about taxis at train stations in Germany? cause in Poland you should never take cabs right next to the train station.

I haven't been to Bremerhaven, but Hafen would be the harbor/port. (Indeed, that's what Bremerhaven means. ;))
There will likely be a taxi stand right outside the train station and there's no reason not to take any marked taxis. Note that though it is common to take the first taxi lined up, you have the right to choose which taxi you want. If for example, you want a taxi that takes credit cards or for whatever reason, you can pick it.
I can't think of any way to earn M&M miles unless you find a codeshare.

The problem is, when you are not picking the first taxi is, that the other drivers are not willing to drive you, because you "should" take the first taxi !!

I didn't have any problems when I have exercised my rights.
I've only done it twice: once I needed a station wagon taxi because there were several of us with quite a bit of luggage and once I didn't have any cash and didn't want to go to an ATM, so I picked the first taxi lined up that took credit cards.

>>>Any way to earn M&M miles?

No.

>>>I was wondering what is the difference between first and second class on German trains?

Mainly level of annoyance caused by fellow travellers.


>>>However on IC and RE trains it is just the pits.

I respectfully disagree about ICs. There I actually prefer the modern 2d class coaches with open space seating ("Grossraum") as opposed to the old 1st class coaches with compartments only.


>>>IC trains do not have air-con in 2nd class only in 1st.

Not correct. "Real" IC-coaches, i.e. not the former IR variety have a/c in 2d.

>>>RE trains don't have a/c in neither class.

Most modern multiple unit trains (as opposed to older trains with locomotive and coaches) have a/c.


>>>They provide free newspapers, but I don't know if there are any in English.

No, there aren't. The lounges have the FT available, though.
Free newspapers only on ICEs anyway.


>>>On some scenic routes the upstairs view (1st class is mostly upstairs on the REs) is really enjoyable.

No double deckers in Bremerhaven iirc.

>>> you have conductors on all RE trains.

To the contrary: Conductors on regional trains are becoming the exception rather than the rule.

The few times I've ridden 2nd class on DB trains............it wasn't bad, even on RE lines. I could see how the lack of AC would beunpleasant.

Then again I'll be there in less than 2 weeks. Don't think I need A/C

So from the Hamburg airport to IC hotel, taxi should be fine?
Also, what is there to see in Hamburg? Any place good to eat? I'm on a somewhat tight budget (well the USD thinks so) and I get in about noon into HAM and got the rest of the day to browse around and relax.
And what time would you leave the hotel to catch a 946AM train (with a stop in the lounge)

No problem. It should be around EUR 25. It goes up to EUR 40 at least if you ask the hotel for an airport pickup.

I guess you are leaving from the main railway station. It should be about 10mn away from the IC. Hamburg Damtor is even closer (5-6mn away). There is nothing really special about the DB lounges. They don't even have decent expresso machines.

As a side note, although I am a RA member and I enjoy the IC Hamburg, I now find that the overall experience as an SPG Plat is better at Le Royal Meridien Hamburg.

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8800: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.0.10031/280; U; en))

Well I took the trip a few days ago. All I can say is wow. Hamburg is a nice city. Nice people from who I met and also good prices. Food despite the usd being so crappy I still had a huge tasty dinner. Hotel was great. And the train station is amazing. Trains are very nice. I guess none of you ever took a polish train before ;) though as I planned I had problems with the car from almost getting denied a port export stamp to getting a flat 50km into the drive back to poland. But I did make it at the end and I have to visit those germans more often.

Glad you enjoyed it.
Didn't you know: In Germany we polish the train before use:D:D

Sorry - could not resist...